Camel Ride Trips5-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour via Merzouga
The relaxed way to cross Morocco from Fes to Marrakech through the Sahara. Two nights around the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga, a sunset camel trek, Gnawa music in Khamlia, the Todra and Dades gorges, a slow day through the Valley of Roses and Skoura, then Ait Ben Haddou and Telouet over the High Atlas. Planned by our local team, born in the desert near Merzouga.
What is the 5-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour?
It is a private, one-way desert tour by Camel Ride Trips, a local team from Rissani near Merzouga. It starts at your riad in Fes and ends in Marrakech after 5 days and 4 nights. The route crosses the Middle Atlas through Ifrane and the Azrou cedar forest, follows the Ziz Valley to Merzouga, and includes two nights there: one in a hotel and one in a Sahara camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes after a sunset camel trek. It then visits Khamlia, Rissani, the Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley, Kalaat M'Gouna, the Skoura oasis, Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou and the Kasbah of Telouet, crossing the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass.
- 1 night Merzouga hotel
- 1 night Sahara desert camp
- 1 night Dades Valley
- 1 night Ouarzazate
How long is the drive from Fes to Marrakech through the Sahara?
The full route from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga is about 1,200 km. Split over five days, no day is rushed: the longest drive is day 1 (Fes to Merzouga), broken up by stops in Ifrane, the cedar forest, Midelt and the Ziz Valley. Times below are approximate and include short stops.
| Day | Route | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Fes → Ifrane → Midelt → Merzouga | about 470 km | 7–8 hours with stops |
| Day 2 | Merzouga, Khamlia and Rissani | about 80 km | Short drives, camel trek at sunset |
| Day 3 | Merzouga → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley | about 300 km | 5–6 hours with stops |
| Day 4 | Dades → Kalaat M'Gouna → Skoura → Ouarzazate | about 120 km | 2–3 hours, relaxed day |
| Day 5 | Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Telouet → Marrakech | about 230 km | 5–6 hours with visits |
🏜 Local desert team
Our team is from Rissani, so the camels and camp are run by us.
⛺ Two nights in Merzouga
A dune-side hotel and a Sahara camp in Erg Chebbi.
🚙 Private 4x4
Air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with your own driver-guide.
🌿 Relaxed pace
No very long days after day 1, with time to walk in the gorges.
5-Day Fes to Marrakech Itinerary
- Day 1
Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz Valley → Merzouga
Your driver picks you up at your riad in Fes. Cross the Middle Atlas to Ifrane, the 'Switzerland of Morocco', then stop in the cedar forest near Azrou to see the Barbary macaques.
Have lunch in Midelt, between the Middle and High Atlas, then follow the palm groves and canyon views of the Ziz Valley to Merzouga, at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel in Merzouga, dinner included
- Day 2
Khamlia, Rissani and a sunset camel trek
Explore the dunes and visit Khamlia, a village whose families, of sub-Saharan origin, play traditional Gnawa music. Continue to Rissani, the old trading capital of the Tafilalt, for its market and artisans, and taste medfouna, the local stuffed bread, for lunch.
In the late afternoon, ride a camel into the dunes to watch the sunset. At the desert camp, enjoy a tagine dinner, mint tea and Berber drums under the stars.
🛏 Overnight: Sahara desert camp, dinner included
- Day 3
Merzouga → Tinjdad → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley
Wake up for sunrise over the dunes and ride back by camel to the hotel for breakfast and a shower.
Drive through desert villages such as Tinjdad to the Todra Gorge and walk between cliffs up to 300 meters high. After lunch, continue into the Dades Valley, known for its rock formations and kasbahs.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Valley, dinner included
- Day 4
Dades Gorge → Kalaat M'Gouna → Skoura → Ouarzazate
Take a morning walk in the Dades Gorge, then drive to Kalaat M'Gouna, the town of roses, famous for its spring rose festival and rose products.
Cross the Skoura oasis, a large palm grove with old kasbahs, and arrive in Ouarzazate, the 'Gateway to the Sahara' and home of Morocco's film studios.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel in Ouarzazate, dinner included
- Day 5
Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Telouet → Marrakech
Visit the Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate, then Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed fortified village seen in many films and TV series.
Drive through the High Atlas to the Kasbah of Telouet, then cross the Tizi n'Tichka, one of Morocco's highest mountain passes, and arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon.
🏁 Tour ends at your hotel or riad in Marrakech
Choose Your Comfort Level
Choose the level that suits you. The route and guides stay the same; only the hotels, riads and desert camp change.
Basic
- Clean 2–3 star hotels and guesthouses
- Simple traditional riads
- Standard tent in a desert camp
- Private rooms, breakfast included
Mid-Range
- Selected 3–4 star hotels
- Traditional riads with character
- Comfort desert tent with private bathroom
- Private rooms, breakfast included
Luxury
- Premium 4–5 star hotels and boutique riads
- Suites available on request
- Luxury desert tent with en-suite bathroom
- Breakfast included, selected dinners
Included & Not Included
Included
- Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- 4 nights in hotels and a desert camp (Basic, Mid-Range or Luxury)
- Daily breakfast
- Dinners in Merzouga, the Dades Valley and Ouarzazate
- Vegetarian and vegan meal options
- Camel ride and sandboarding
- Photo and rest stops with free time
- Hotel and riad pickup in Fes and drop-off in Marrakech
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments and kasbahs
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Tips for the driver and guides
Questions About the Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour
What is the best desert tour from Fes to Marrakech?
For most travelers, a 5-day tour is the best balance: you get two nights in Merzouga, a sunset camel trek in the Erg Chebbi dunes, and time for the Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley and Ait Ben Haddou without very long days. If you are short on time, our 3-day Fes to Marrakech tour covers the same main sights faster.
How far is it from Fes to Marrakech through the Sahara?
About 1,200 km. The longest day is Fes to Merzouga, around 470 km and 7 to 8 hours with stops. The other days are shorter, which is why five days makes the trip comfortable.
How many nights are in the desert?
Two nights in Merzouga: one in a hotel near the dunes and one in a Sahara desert camp in Erg Chebbi, reached by camel at sunset.
What is the difference between the 3-day and 5-day Fes to Marrakech tours?
The 5-day tour adds a full day in the desert (Khamlia, Rissani and a second Merzouga night), a night in Ouarzazate, a walk in the Dades Gorge and a visit to the Kasbah of Telouet, so the drives are shorter and the pace is slower.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast every day and dinners in Merzouga, at the desert camp, in the Dades Valley and in Ouarzazate. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available.
What is the best time for this tour?
Spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are the most comfortable. In summer we time the camel trek for sunset and sunrise, and in winter the desert nights are cold but the camp provides warm blankets.
Can I choose a different hotel level?
Yes. This tour is available in Basic, Mid-Range and Luxury. The route, driver-guide and local guides stay the same; only the hotels, riads and desert camp change, along with the price.
Other tours from Fes: 2-day Fes to Merzouga, 3-day Fes to Marrakech and 4-day Fes to Marrakech.
Your Journey, Your Pace, Your Morocco
Tell us your dates and we'll prepare this private tour around you, with clear pricing and no obligation.